CM gets a whiff of stinking city

Vijay TImes

Sunday morning was a wake-up call for Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as well to the builder of an apartment complex.

While Kumarswamy had a first-hand look at the state of some key areas in the IT city, Lahiri Towers was slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh for dumping debris on the roadside.

The Chief Minister, whose many promises have fallen by the wayside due to lack of political will, chose to impose a spot fine, which came as shock to the Lahiri Towers owner. The Chief Minister found a heap of debris on the pavement and directed the BBMP officials to slap the fine as per the Karnataka Municpal Council Act for causing obstruction to pedestrians.

This action came during the CM’s first visit to the slums and the KR Market in Chamarajpet since taking over as CM.

Accompanied by MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan, BBMP Commissioner Jairaj, Deputy Commissioner Sadiq and ex-corporator Kokila Chandrashekar, he walked through the lanes of the City market and the slums in the constituency.

He started his visit from Anandpura slum and from there went on to all other slums and the market. Soon, the CM was holding his nose, unable to bear the stench emanating from the piled-up garbage and blocked drains in these lanes.

The slum residents and traders welcomed him with scores of problems. Though he patiently listened to their grievances, he could only deal out assurances.

The CM pulled up the civic officials and sought a reply from them for the grievances. He announced that his government was keen on working for the welfare of the poor and added that he would call for a meeting with all the civic authorities and other officials in order to find a permanent solution to their problems. He spent three hours analysing the problems of the people living in these slums and visited Tippunagar, Anandapura and other slums on Mysore road, Kalasipalya and K R Market.

Later, he also made it a point to visit the two ancient two temples of the constituency — the Karekal Anjaneya Swamy temple and Kote Jalakanteshwara Mandir and performed poojas. During his visit, he also assured early distribution of title deeds to the slum dwellers. He said that there are certain legal impediments in the distribution of the title deeds, but he would try to solve them.

He also directed the BBMP officials to evict 32 houses built on the Storm Water Drain in Sudhamnagar and also directed them to provide Rs 15,000 as compensation under 18 per cent grants.